The Return of Mom & Pop?

[PrettySquareGal]

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL--You don't have to travel far in Tampa Bay to see an empty parking lot and a closed down restaurant.

But, in Wesley Chapel, we found one place where the orders are piling up, the seats are filling up, and business is sizzling.

"I'm doing what I've done for 40 years," says Roger Wolf, owner of the Wolf’s Den Restaurant in Wesley Chapel.

But what Wolf’s doing at his place is perhaps a throwback to another time. His restaurant opened just eight months ago and it’s already a local hot spot. Wolf says he grew up in the restaurant business and he says continues to operate today according to his father's motto.

"Good quality food, family oriented for a fair price," Wolf says. In fact, the most expensive meal at the Wolf’s Den is $8.99....

http://www.abcactionnews.com/conten...is-making-it-work/3lHbJysD20iaNhvthuVgVA.cspx

The chains local to me are closing or almost empty these days (however I eat at The Outback and hope they never close). I'm wondering if more small down to earth home cookin' places will open.

What's it like near you?

 

[Red Diabla]

I think the popularity of shows such as Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives shows where a lot of people are at. My husband and I love watching this show...we call it "food porn".

And whenever possible, we eat at local joints, not chains. It's oh-SO-much better!

RD

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Other than Outback, I'm totally a local eater! Big diner fan.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Over the past two years we've had a Wendys and a Dennys go out of business, and our local mom-and-pop cafes and lunch rooms seem to be doing just fine. The Applebees over in the next town seems to do OK, but it's pretty much the only place you can get a sit-down meal after 9 pm. It doesn't hurt that they have a hotel just across the parking lot.

 

[Paisley]

I just read in the Denver Post that several chi-chi restaurants have turned into bars seving bar food (or maybe a notch up from that) to do more business. The owners said they planned to back to being proper restaurants when the economy allowed.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I just read in the Denver Post that several chi-chi restaurants have turned into bars seving bar food (or maybe a notch up from that) to do more business. The owners said they planned to back to being proper restaurants when the economy allowed.

Now that you mention it, I know of at least one of those here that redid their menu and marketing to make it more downscale.

 

[Foofoogal]

I personally think and hope for a return to mom and pop everything. I believe the time is so ripe for nostalgia and after hearing so much everything on the news lately a large segment is scratching like a dog trying to find a long lost bone. Not everyone is or can be expected to jump willy nilly happily on this fast moving train called globilization. In fact there is going to be an American tea party pretty soon by these type of folks.

On a personal note today we stopped for a hamburger. I asked honey if he noticed anything way different with his. We were stunned to find 2 nice large slices of tomatoes with a nice bed of lettuce and made like they used to make them. I honestly think we had grown used to subpar hamburgers around Houston. :eusa_doh: It is a small thing but important.

 

[ex812]

Lets hope mom and pop are back to stay